Plant Nursery

The Trust raises about 5000 plants each year in its own nursery from locally collected seeds. The planting of native trees and flaxes to provide sheltered breeding sites for hoiho is one of the Trust’s most successful strategies. The priority for plant production is plants for penguins and local community conservation projects. Planting also supports biodiversity, reducing sediment run off and acts as a buffer for climate change.

The low annual rental of a ‘penny’ for the decommissioned Dunedin City Council sewerage works is helpful for the viability of the nursery. The nursery has traditionally run on a break-even basis, relying on donations from organisations and individuals. Many years ago when the Trust was unable to secure sufficient sponsorships or grants to offset the operating costs, plant production was significantly increased to 15,000 pa to enable the sale of plant stock to assist. These sales assisted the nursery to remain a viable unit and a vital part of the Trust’s core operations until the devastating flood of 2015. Since then plant production has been reduced to about 5000pa.

Established in 1988 with a $25,000 New Zealand Lottery Board grant, the Trust's first nursery at Dunedin Methodist Mission Home in Company Bay initially produced about 5,000 plants annually. Jim Ellison managed plant production and habitat work.

In 1993, the nursery relocated to private land in Company Bay for expansion, but poor drainage limited growth. A move in 2000 to a decommissioned Dunedin City Council sewerage plant provided more space, better sunlight, and lockable buildings.

After Ellison's retirement in 2002, Margaret Suman and Anita Pillai voluntarily managed the nursery for a year, securing Vodafone funding for their co-manager salaries in 2003. Pillai became sole manager in 2010 when Suman moved. Louise Ashton currently oversees nursery operations since July 2015.